Valve



F. H. ROGERS 4 Sheets-Sheet l awww/woz F. H. ROGERS Dec. 1, 1931.

VALVE Filed Oct. 26, 1925 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mwtoz #75M F. H. ROGERS VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 26, 1925 www 11m-Q1 mmc Dec. 1, 1931. F. 1-1. ROGERS 1,834,870

VALVE sued oct. ze, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE .V

FRANK H.` ROGERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB, BY mNE AB- SIGNIENTS, TO I. P. IOBRIS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE VALVE Application nled October 26, 1995. Serial No. 84,714.

This invention relates to valve mechanism and more particularly to means for sealing a movable valve member and its cooperating casing.

The specific ty e of valve herein disclosed is of the butteriiy or pivotal type and the problems and diiliculties relating to this type of valve are also present in other types of valves wherein it is desired to e'ect the sealing action between a movable valve member and a cooperating stationary member.l The diiculties, however, are somewhat more accentuated in butteriy valves. There has been developed principally Afor hydraulic turbine work two principal orms'of cutterly valves, the first being that of having thevalve disc set at an angle to the center line of the pipe so that when the valve is closed the disc will seat as by a taper fit in the valve casing. This type of seat is only effective against the leakage at the two points where the disc is in contact with the body. For all other portions around the disc there is a clearance between the same and the body through which the water can leak. Also with this type of valve the tightest fit between the disc and the body occurs on the pressure side of the disc as at this point the water pressure attem ts to force theidisc into closer contact wit the body while on the diametrically opposite side the Water' pressure tends to force the disc open or away from its cor.- tact with the body and hence a slight deflection of the disc occurs causing leakage at this point.

The other general type of valve to overcome leakage is one furnished with movable rings often known as snap rings which are usually inserted in the periphery of the valve disc. These rings move in a generally radial direction but this t pe of valve, like the angularly disposed va ve above mentioned, very often becomes warped and as a result the snap rings do not make a true seat with the valve casing and hencel leakage will occur. Aixother diiliculty experienced with valves of the snap ring type is that sand or other foreign material will accumulate behind the' rings and sometimes prevent radial movenient thereof. This sometimes causes the valve to become stuck wheii in closed position, or may cause'other difficulties in operation. 1

With the above and other problems in mind it is an object of my invention to provide means whereby an eii'ective seal will be made irrespective of warping of the valve, or of any other conditions which might exist such as the valve not being truly circuiar. In

one specific aspect of the invention such seal is effected by providing means such as might be termed a diaphragm and consisting generally in having a substantially continuous iiexible member extending around the periphen,Tr

'of the valve disc and so arranged that it may iiex along an ularly disposed axes. Thus it will be seen t at the fiexible sealing member may conform to a cooperating irregular seating surface. y

It is a further object of my invention to provide means whereby the sealing means may be controlled by fluid pressure and in one specific aspect of the invention the source of this fluid pressure is the Afluid which. is being controlled. A further object is to provide means whereby the diaphragm or sealing member may be pressed against its cooperating seat by a very substantial'pressure. To accomplish this result in one specific manner advantage is taken of the fact that when the valve is in closed position differential pressures will exist on the up and down stream side of the valve. y

A still further object of the invention is to provide semi-automatic means for pressing the flexible sealing member against its cooperating seat which means is operative after the valve disc is brought to its closed position. Specifically this mode of operation is attained by having one or a series of holes ingrthe inventionautomatic feature for the pressure within the. diaphragm or sealin .means can be controlled by'jany external mec anism. Another object of my invention is to provide means for autog matically controlling the pressure within the sealing means in accordance with opening or` closing of the valve disc or gate. In this aspect of the invention the same may embody the semi-automatic feature above referred to. 1g The particular object of controlling the pressure within theV sealing means is to allow the valve gate to be brought to and from its closed position without having any contact `between the cooperatin sealing parts and thereby reu duce friction uring movement of the valve or wear and tear between the relatively movableparts. Due to the use of flexible sealing J means, it is particularly advantageous to release the same as above stated for the reason a that if the valve discduring movement should have forcible contact with the flexible member the latter might tend to be pulled into an abnormal and unnecessary shape.

e In the accompanying drawmgs Aillustratig. 1 is a plan view of the valve mechanism associated with the pipe line. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the valve casingadjacent the movable l l valve member.

Fi 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the exible member surrounding the gate shaft.

Fig.'4 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing one means for controlling fluid pressure to the sealing means. f

Fig. 8 is a modified -form of controlling means and embodying a semi-automatic controlling feature. y

Fig.'9 is a sectional view showing the sealin member-in its sealing position.

ig. 10 is a sectional view showing the sealinmember in released-position. ig. 11 is a transverse sectional view showina modified form'of sealing means.I

4 ig. 12 is an enlarged detail sectional .view of the modified form of sealing means shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view showing the modified form of sealing means in Fig. 11 adjacent the valve shaft. Y

F'g. 14 -is amodified view of a removable seat ring.4 1 Figs. 15 to 17 are diagrammatic views of the various steps during automatic control of the fluid pressure for controlling the sealing means `in accordance with Athe operation of the gate valve. In the` 'llustrated embodiment of my invention I have shownl a valve mechanism generally indicated by 1 interposed between an able and radially Inova upstream pipe 2 and a downstream pipe 3, the latter elng adapted for connection toa turbine or other suitable hydraulic apparatus. As shown in Fig. 2 the valve mechanism lcomprises a casing made up of a series of identical segments 4 and a pair of diametrically opposed identical segments 5. The segments 5 are somewhat different in construction from the ysegments 4 in order to permit pivotal support'of the valve gate 6. The various segments are joined by radial flanges 7 which are held together in any suitable manner as may be desired. Each of the segments 4 on their inner sides are provided with a recess 8 surrounding which are, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, axial and peripheral supporting Fsurfaces 9 and 10 respectively. As shown 1n 1gs with substantially rectangular shaped recesses 11 and a central annular recess 12, a bearing 13 rojecting upwardly from the segments 5 a )acent the recess 12. A suitable `bushing 14 is disposed within the bearing housin 13 to receive a trunnion 15 which is secure to the ate valve 6. Recesses 11 and 12 are surroun ed by supporting surfaces 16. When the valve housing comprising the arts 4 and 5 is assembled the supporting suraces 9, 10 and 16, Figs. 2 and 4, will provide a substantially cylindrical inner surface upon 2 and 4 the segments 5 are provided which a series of sealing members may be mounted to form a diaphragm. These sealing members -for the segments 5 are generally rectangular in shape and secured to the surfaces as by rivets, screws or other suitable means generally indicated 21 while the sealing members 22.for covering the recesses 11 l i are somewhat similar to the kmembers 20.v The sealing members by having'one ortion thereof secured to the casing or the va ve disc while the remaining` ortion is flexible ,provides broadly a diaphragm having immovle portions. The sealing members 23 for covering the recess 12 comprises as shown in Fig. 4 two members 23a and 23?; placed in adjacent relation along a line 24 which is transverse to the longitudiy.nal axis of the pipes. The members 23a and 23?; are secured along their longitudinal edge 25 by rivets or screws 21 and are similarly secured along their transverse edge 26,. while the adjacent edges along the line 24 are left relatively free. A circular opening 27 formed in the sealing member 23 receives and has a running fit with the shaft 15 of the gate 6. It will, of course, beunderstood that while these sealing members or plates are relatively thin so asto flex radially they are nevertheless suiiiciently strong to resist wear y and-pressure. to which they might be subjected. y

The valve 6 as shown in Fig. 1 is disposable at right angles to the axis of the pipe line and its periphery as shown in Fig. 7 is provided with a removable seat ring having an annular recess 31 within which an annular.

upper surface of the sleeve is curved so as to provide a sealing surface for cooperation with the plate 23.

To control movement of t-he various sealing plates pipes 35 have communication with each of the recesses 8, 11 and 12. These pipes as Ashown in Fig. 7 may have .communication with the upstream side of the piping as by a pipe 36 which is controlled by any usual type of manually operable valve 37. A pipe 38 is also adapted to allow communication between the downstream side of the valve mechanism and the pipes 35, and pipe 38 also being provided with a manuall operable valve 39. A suitable spacing mem er 40 may be disposed within each recess adjacent the sealing members to limit inward movement of the sealing plates.

In the operation of this form of the inven tion the valve disc 6 is assumed to have been moved transversely of the pipe line to closed position as indicated in Fig. 1. During this time the valves 37 and 39, Fig. 7, are opened `and closed respectively. This permits water or other liquid on the upstream side to liow to the various recesses behind the sealing plates thereby equalizing the pressure on the upstream side`of the plates while permitting a different pressure to exist on the downstream side of the plates. This differential pressure .condition can exist due to the fact that when the valve 6 is brought to its closing position the downstream side of the pipe will be practically discharged leaving sub` stantially atmospheric pressure therein. The vresult of this pressure condition is that the downstream side of the sealing plates adjacent the downstream peripheral edge of the valve 6 will be forced into contact therewith. Due to the flexibility of the sealing plates in different directions, for exam le, along both their transverse and longitu inal axes, irregularity can existin the shape of `the valve disc without effecting the sea-ling action of the plates. This irregularity may be due to several causes certain of which as above mentioned consist in warping of the disc or to conditions created during assembling thereof. Prior 4to movement of the j valve 6 to its open position the valve 37 will bers 40 and free of the'peripheral edge of the seating ring 30. Thus the valve can be rotated relatively easy to its open position and 'without in any way subjecting the sealing plates to unnecessary wear, it being' note that the valve member when near closed position has its peripheral surface movable substantially arallel to the inner surface of the est adjacent portions of the disc and casing are provided with ample clearance to facilitate unrestricted movement of the valve when unsealed. y In this form of the device the securin of the adjacent ends of the sealing plates oes not interfere with a substan tially complete sealing action between the valve disc and its casing. The core mem'ber 40 extends as a fixed circumferential ridge within the pressure chamberwhich is formed by the fiexible sealing` member and surrounding casing, this ridge of course being broken at the points where pressure or bearing connections pass into or through the pressure chamber.

In the modified form as shown in Figs. 5

casing. T ese surfaces which are the nearand 6 a sleeve 40 similar to the sleeve 34 'bearing housin 42, the shaft 15 bein suitably journalle therein similar to t at as shown in Fig. 3.

In a further modified form ofthe sealing mechanism a semi-automatic control of the actuating fluid for thesealing members is effected. For instance in Fig. 8 the plates are provided on the upstream side with a small leak ort 43 while the pipe 35 has connection wit only a discharge pipe 44, a manually operable valve 45 being disposed within the pipe 44. In the operation of this form of control, when the valve 6 is brought to its closed position the downstream side of the pipe will be discharged while the water or other liquid in the u stream side will flow under pressure throug the ports 43 and force the sealing plates into contact with the sealing ring'30 as explained in connection with the operation of the form shown in Fig. 7. To release the sealing plates the valve 45 will be opened and the pressure behind the sealing plates greatly'reduced after which the pressure on the upstream side of the valve disc will force the sealing plates against the spacing members 40. While this released condition of the sealing plates exists water will flow through the port 43 but due to the discharge pipe 44 being open no -pressure will accumulate behind the sealing plates. It will thus beseen that this form of the invention has means for controlling a portion of the sealing action automatically in accordance with the valve disc operation. y

To render control of the sealing plates completely automatic there may be provided, as diagrammatically 'shown in Figs. 15 to 17an atmospheric discharge pipe 50' communicating with each of the pipes 35 and 5 tor which 1s herein dia ranch pipe 53 which has a valve 54. It

will,of course, be understood that the valve disc 6 is operated by a suitable type of moas of the lluid actuate piston type generally indicated by 55. A piston rod 56 which is connected to a crank arm mounted on the valve shaft 15 4carries adjustable valve engagingmembers 57 and 58. The valve 52 ma be operated by a diaphragm, or piston an cylinder mechanism 59, which is actuatdetermined period of time.`-v After this' elapsed time the dash pot or equivalent mechanism will permit the return of 4'the valve 54 gages the arm 62 upon movement of the rod 56 from its extreme right hand position toward its left hand position.' 4The member 58 by a `suitable means, such as a yieldable latch member 63' carried on the lower end of the arm 63, is ada ted' to move by the valve .54 ina right-han direction without actuating the valve. The arrangement shown vvoul for practical purposes open the valve 52 prior. to the actuation of the motor 55 for the ressure necessary to actuate the motor mig t be considerably greater than the pressure necessary for actuating the valve 52.

In the operation of this automatic form of my invention it will be assumedv that the valve disc is in closed position and is sealed. During this condition valves 52 and 53 will be closed, valve51 is open, and the piston ofl the motor 55 will be at its left hand position.

4s-Prior to openin of the valve disc it is desired to release t e pressure behind the sealing plates. This is accomplished by admitting actuating. fluid to the left hand end of the motor cyhnder which fluid will also flow through the pipe to the mechanism 59 to open'the valve 52 as shown in Fig. 15 thereby venting the pipe 50 to the atmosphere to release the pressure on one side of the sealing plates. Due to the relatively small pressure necessary to actuate the valve 52 the lat- ;ter will be opened as before stated prior to the time when the fluid pressure in the motor will be suflicient to actuate the same. Upon actuation of the motor the gate valve will be initially opened while the sealing plates are free of the gate disc. After the valve disc is moved away from the lsealing plates, it is desirable to close they pipe 5 0 to prevent any discharge of water from the pipe line as through the ports 43. To elect this operaammatically shown lto its closed position. The member 57 ention the member 57 spaced a shortdistance from the arm 61 so as to allow suicient movement ofthe valve disc prior to closing of the valve 51 b en agement of the arm 61 by the member 5 he closed position of valve 51 70 is shownin Fig. 16 wherein the motor piston has reached its 'right hand limit of movement. Actuating` pressure thereto will be shut oil and'this will also release actuating pressure in the valve operating mechanism 59 thereby allowin the valve 52 to be closed. as by a spring or other device. When it is desired to close the valve disc the `motor will be actuatedand when the valvedisc has just about reached its closing position fluid pressure which has accumulated behind .the sealing plates will be released. This is effected by t e member 58 engaging the arm 63 as shown in Fig. 417 to open the valve 54'thereby venting the pipe 50 and accordingly allowing the pressure within the pi line to force the sealing' plates outwardly om the periphery of the valve disc. The latter can thereby come to its closed position without engaging the sealing plates. In-order to prevent any sealing action until the valve disc is in its full closed position, the dash 4pot mechanism 64 will hold the valve 54 open a predetermined `length of time as shown in dotted lines in Fig.

17. The valve 54 will thereafter beclosed to D5 the full line position in Fig. 17 by a suitable spring or other mechanism cooperating with the dash pot mechanism. Due to the valves 52 and 54 now bein closed water under pressure will accumulate behind the sealing plates as by flowing through the ports 43 to cause a sealing'action as before described. The valves 51, 52 and 53 andthe motor Will now be in the position initially assumed.

A further modification of the sealing 105 means is shown in Fig. 9 wherein a sealing member 70 is made of rubber or otherfwellknown non-metallic flexible material. In order to assist movement of such material or to help keep the shape thereof a small flexible metallic backing plate 71 may beprovided. AY leak port 43 could, of course, be used in this construction as could also any of the other various t pes of mechanism for controlling the 'fluid ehind the sealing member. Figs. 9l 115 and 10 clearly show the sealing member in its sealing and released positions respectively. The sealing ring 30 could be made of any suitable material also, such as rubber for it has -been found that cooperating rubber surfaces when lubricated by water form a very eilicient combination. .As is illustrated in Fig. 9 the sealing member is llexed on the downstream side morethan on the upstreaml side due to the difference in pressure on the downstream side of the valve disc.

Another modified form of my device is shown in Figs. 11 to 13 wherein the yieldable sealing means is carried by the periphery of the valve disc. The valve 6 is provided with 130 a peripheral groove 73 which has communi-v cation as by a series of radial passages 74 with a central chamber 75 which in turn has communication as throu h a radial passage ,5 76 extending out throng the shaft 15 with any of the above described types of mechanism for controlling fluid behind the sealing member. A flexible member 77 covers the annular recess 73 and has also a leak port 43. A suitable backing plate 78 may be provided. The seating ring 79 is mounted on the stationary valve housing and is in all respects similar to the ring 30 except, of course, that the annular recess 80 corresponding to the recess 31 is on the outer side. As shown in Fig. 13 thesealing member 77 extends around the sleeve 40. This resilient means easily pre-` sents a continuous sealing surface around the valve disc periphery between the pivot shafts thereof. The resilient means 1n general, which wouldv include either the metallic or non-metallic type, constitutes a diaphragmlike member, this being in distinction to `snap-rings, segments thereof, or the like.-

u A A modified form of sealing ring for the valve disk is shown in Fig. 14 wherein a peripheral annular recess 81 receives a sealing ring 82. The ring has inclined sides engaging an inclined surface 83 of the recess 81 30 and a clamping ring 84 which is secured to the valve disc as by a series of cap screws 85.

By the use of the leak port 43 the possibility of accumulation of sand or grit behind the sealin plates is reduced to a minimum.

85 This for t e reason that water flows through the port 43 and out the other side thereby causing a circulation of water in one direce tion. This circulation will carry any sand out the discharge side. In other forms where the port is not used suitable drain valves could be furnished.

While several forms of the invention have been specifically described, it will of course be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the details and arrangement of parts without departing` from the spirit-of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

1. A valve mechanism comprising a casing member, a pivoted valve disc member, and means for sealing said members when in their closed relation, including a radially flexible element adapted to be flexed byfluid pressure and meansfor supporting -said element, whereby a transverse section of said element has a portion which is relatively immovable during iiexure of ,another portion of said section by fluid pressure.

0 2. A valve mechanism comprising a casing member, a pivoted valve disc member, and means for sealing said 'members when in their closed relation, including a radially flexible element adapted to be flexed by iluid pres- "l sure," means for supporting said element,

whereby a transverse section of said element has a portion which is relatively immovable during flexure of another portion of said l 5 i l section by fluid pressure, one of said memf bers having a recess formed -therein for receiving fluid pressure to effect flexure of said sealing element, and said iiexible member being adapted to flex inwardly and outwardl with respect to said recess in-accordance wit sealing or unsealing operations.

3. A valve mechanism comprising a casing a pivotal valve member disposed therein, and

means for sealing said member and casing including a member having relatively movable and immovable portions, and 'cans whereby said member -is adapted to ave one side thereof uniformly subjected to the same presv sure while the other side thereof is subjected to different pressures.

4. A valve mechanism comprising a casing, a movable valve member disposed there- -in,`and means for sealing said member and,

casing including a diaphragm having immovable and radially movable portions, said diaphragm being adapted to be subjected to fluid, pressure from opposite sides of and having provision vfor releasing the pressure from one of said sides.l

5. A valve mechanism comprising a casing and a movablevalve member disposed therein, means for sealing said member and casing including a member having relatively A.

movable and immovableportions, and means whereby the movable portion of said sealing means is adapted to be moved to its sealing condition only after said valve member is brought to its normal closed position.

` 6. A valve mechanism comprising a casing,

a movable valve member disposed thereln,

means for sealing said member and casing inlcludina` a member having immovable and radially movable portions, and means for effecting radial movementv of said sealing means to a non-sealing position prior to openinfr of said valve member.

7. A valve mechanism comprising 'a casing, a pivotal valve member disposed therein, means for sealing said member and casing including a flexible diaphragm like member having a substantially continuous inner wall, and means for eiecting movement of said sealing means to its sealing position when said los valve member is in its closed position and for effecting movement of said sealing means to a non-sealing position prior to movement of said valve member from its closed position.

8. A valve mechanism comprising a casing, a movable valve member disposed therein, means for sealing said member and casing including radially iiexible means forming a chamber, said flexible means having in a transverse section thereof relatively movable portions, and a restricted port for allowing flow of fluid from the casing to said chamber,

tao

and means for allowing discharge of fluid I from said chamber.

i 9. valve mechanism com rising a casing, a movable valve member isposed therein, means forsealing said member and ca sing including radially flexible diaphragmatic means -formm a chamber and a restricted ort for allowm flow of fluid from the cas- 1ngto said cham er, andmeans for allowing discharge of fluid from said chamber while fluid continues to flow into said chamber through said restricted port. A

10. A valve mechanism comprising a casy ing having an outlet and a valve member movable transversely of the outlet side of said casing, said casing and valve member when near closed position having adjacent surfaces relatively movable in substantially parallel relation, and means for sealing said member and casing including a member adapted to flex in angularly disposed directions and to assume a non-sealing position to provideclearance between said valve member and said sealing means when the valve is in closed position, and means for effecting sealing action onlyV by fluidpressure and to release said fluid pressure to effectsaid clearance space.

11. A valve mechanism comprising a casing, a pivoted valve disc disposed therein, and means for sealing said disc and casing adjacent the periphery of said disc, including a flexible member supported by said cas- 'ing and adapted to substantially conform to an irregular sealing surface, which irregurections, and means for efectlng exure of said member directly by fluid pressure.

12. A valve mechanism comprising a cas-- ing, a movable valvemember disposed there- 40 in, and means for sealin said member and Y lcasing includin a radially flexible diaphragm-like mec anism having normally re1- atively movable and immovable portions lyingin thersame transverse plane, said diaphragm being disposed between the nearest adjacent portions of said casing and valve member when the latter is in itsclosed' osition, and means for effecting expansion Y Aof said dia hragm by fluid pressure.

stantially parallel to said casing, and means for sealing said casingfand member including a flexible member adapted. to be flexed a greater amount on the downstream side of larities'may extend in angularly dis osed disaid valve member when the latter is in its closed position than on the upstream side of said flexible member.

V15. A valve mechanism comprising a casing having recesses to receive fluid pressure, and a pivotal circular valve disposed within said casing and having its periphery disposed adjacent to said recesses when in closed position, flexible plates secured to said casing and covering said recesses, and means for controlling the fluid pressure in said recesses, thereby to control sealin said plates and the perip ery of said valve member. j i

16. A valve mechanism comprising acasing, a substantially circular valve member pivotally mounted in said casing and means for sealing said casing and valve member including flexible means extending around the pivots of said valve member at substantially right angles to the ivot axis.

17. A valve mec anism comprising ka easing including a plurality of sect1ons each provided with a recess, sup orting surfacessurrounding said recesses, exible lates secured t said surfaces to close each o said recesses, a substantially circular` valve member disosedA within said casing, pivots for supporting said valve member, bearings carried by certain of said casinflr sections for supporting said pivots, and sealing means surrounding said ivots comprising a pair of flexible members aving free edges meeting along a line radially of the pivot axis. Y

18. valve comprisin ,a stationary cascontact between.

'loo

ing, a ivoted valve mem er disposed therein an slightly spaced therefrom when in closed position to provide a clearance space, flexible sealing means carried by said stationary casing, and means for effecting actuation nf said Vsealing means by fluid pressure, said sealing means being adapted to Vclose the clearance s ace between said casingandl in, a flexible contact sealing element for sealing said member and casing, and means for effecting movement of said sealing means by fluid pressure, including means for releasing said pressure automatically in accordance with an opening operation preparatory to opening movement of the valve.

said valve mem r when in closed position. c i

. 19. A valve comprising a stationary cas-,110

t e I 21. A valve mechanism comprising a cas- Y ing, a movable member disposed therein, means for sealing-said member and casing,

and\means for effecting movement of said sealing means by fluid pressure, including means for releasing said pressure automatically in accordance with an opening operation preparatory to final closing movement of the valve.

22. A valve mechanism comprising a casing, a movable valve member disposed therein, power operated means for moving said valve, means for sealing said valve and casing, including a fluid actuated sealing member, and means for automatically controlling the sealing pressure in accordance with the power supply to said valve actuating means.

23. A valve mechanism comprising a casing having a ivotal valve member, pivot shafts upon which said member is supported, diaphragmatic means for sealing said casing and valve member, and means forming a recess around one of said pivot shafts, and a sleeve attached to said movable valve, surrounding said shaft and extending into said ecess, with which said sleeve has a close 24. A valve comprising a generally cylindrical body forming an outer stationary wall, a pivotal disc within said wall adapted to be rotated to a osition normal to the axis of said cylindrical) body, and a member forming a relatively narrow circumferentially disposed portion of said stationary wall, said member being composed of flexible material and being adapted to remain in substantiall fixed position along its circumferentially isposedA edge portions while its intermediate portion between said edge portions is adapted to be deflected radially inward so as to engage the edge of said disc when in closed position, and means to effect said deflection by fluid pressure and to relieve said deflection by a reduction of the fluid pressure to effect withdrawal of said flexible member from engagement with said disc during movement of the disc.

25. A valve comprising a stationary casing, a pivoted valve disc disposed-therein, and a sealing member which extends circumferentially around' the valve disc when said disc is in closed position, said sealing member forming on at least one side thereof a permanently closed contact with the casing, while the portion of said sealing member adjacent the edge of the valve disc is adapted l to be flexed radially inward by fluid pressure to engage said disc, and means whereby the fluid pressure may be released to permit disengagementv of said sealing memberprior to opening of said valve.

26. A valve mechanism comprising a casing member, a valve disc member pivotally disposed therein, and means forming a positive fluid-tight chamber extending around the periphery of said disc and a portion of the means forming said chamber being adapted to be radially flexed by fluid pressure within said chamber, thereb to effect sealing action, another portion o said means, integral I' with said flexible portion, being relatively immovable during said flexure.

27. A valve mechanism comprising a casing member, a valve disc member pivotally disposed therein, and means forming a positive fluid-tight chamber extending around the periphery of said disc and a portionof the means forming said chamber being relatively immovable while another portion integral therewith is ada ted to be radially flexed by fluid pressure witliin said chamber, thereby to efl'ect sealing action, and means disposed within said fluid receiving chamber to positively limit movement of said flexible portion into said recess when pressure within said chamber is reduced.

28. A valve mechanism comprising a casing member, a valve disc member pivotally supported therein, and means for sealin and unsealing said members when in their c osed relation, including a part adapted to be radially flexed to a sealing position by fluid pressure and to resume a substantially unflexed state when fluid pressure is released to provide clearance bet-Ween said valve disc and said flexible sealing member, means for controlling the sealing fluid pressure so as to obtain said clearance with the valve in closed position or to close said clearance, said flexible part constituting a portion of a continnous wall forming a chamber for receiving the fluid pressure, and means forming a core disposed within said chamber, whereby `movement of said flexible wall inwardly of said chamber is positively limited.

29. A valve comprising a stationary casing, a pivoted valve memzber disposed therein and slightly spaced therefrom when in closed position to providea clearance space, flexible sealing means carried bysaid stationary casing, and means forefecting actuation of said sealing means by fluid pressure, said sealing means being adapted to close the clearance space between said casing and said valve member when in closed position, and flexible sealing means extending aound the pivotal axis of said valve member.

30. A valve comprising a stationary casing, a pivotedvalve member disposed therein, flexible sealing means carr1ed by said stationary casing, and .means for. effecting actuation of said sealing means by fluid ressure, including a recess extending'aroun the pivoted valve member, and said recess being closed by said flexible sealing means which no 'Y is adapted to be radially flexed by fluid pressure in said recess to effect a sealing action between said casing and valve member.

31. In combination with a valve mechanisxn having a casing member and a movable p1voted valve member disposed therein, of means for sealing said members when in 8 l o v1,834,870 p their relatively closed position, including means, forming a Huid pressure chamber, having a Huid operated flexible sealing member which hasrrelatively movable and immovable portions, means lfor controlling the fluid sealing pressure whereby with the valve iny closed position said' flexible member is adapted torbe either in asealingkposition or in an unsealing position to providclearlo ance with said valve member, said sealing member being relatively wide in proportion f to its thickness, when 1n an uniiexed state, and whereby, during flexure thereof, the ma- 1 4 terialv of said sealing member will not .bev overstressed by undue distortion.

- 32. In combination with a valve mechanism having a' casing member and a movable valve disc member disposed therein, of means for sealing said members when in their relago tively closed position including means forming a fluid pressure chamber,'having a luid l operated flexible member which has relatively movable and immovable portions, means for controlling the fluid sealin pressure whereby with the valve in close position said flexible member is adapted to be either in a sealing position or in an unsealing position to provide clearance with said valve member, said `flexible member when the valve $0 member is in a closed position being disposed between the ed e of said valve disc'and a rigid backing` e ement so as to limit the extent of its possible movement of lexure both inwardly and outwardly. j 33. A valve mechanism comprising a casing, a movable valve member adapted to co- Y operate therewith and being spaced therefrom when in closed position to provide a clearance s ace, and means for sealing said 40 member an casing including a sealing mem- 'ber adapted to be flexed along angularlydisposed lines, and means for eectin operation of said sealing member only y iuid pressure to close said clearance space.

.45 v 34. The combinationin a valve mechanism Y comprisin a casing-member, a pivoted valve disk mem er therein, means forming a fluid Y pressure chamber in one of said members, said means including a flexible rubber portion forming atleast a part of said chamber and being rigid with the remaining portion which forms said chamber, and means for admitting fluid pressure to said chamber to move said rubber portion radially into sealing position and to release said sealing pressure whereby said rubber sealing portion retracts to an unsealingposition to provide clearance between the casing member and l valve disc member when the valve is in closed o position, said rubber portion being disposed `betweenf'the peripheral portion of said disk and said casing when the valve is in closedI position.V Y y Y FRANK H. ROGERS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,834,870. Granted Deeember I, 1931.10

FRANK II. ROGERS.`

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring Correction as follows: Page 5, line 91, claim 4, for the word "of" read thereof; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with kthis correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of March, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore, (Sell) Acting Commissioner of Patenti.- 

